For what it's worth – which certainly isn't two points - the match penalty assessed to Blues forward David Backes in Friday's frustrating 5-3 loss at Detroit has been rescinded by the NHL.

That's right, it never happened.

Backes was given a match penalty, which carries suspension ramifications, for an “illegal hit to the head” of Detroit's Kent Huskins midway through the third period of a 3-3 battle. The Red Wings went on to score on the ensuing power play and later added an empty-net goal to beat the Blues.

Television replays clearly showed Backes hit Huskins with a shoulder to the chest and made no contact with Huskins' head. That is, legal and not to the head. Official Ian Walsh saw it – or some might argue didn't see it – differently.

The damage done, the penalty has now been wiped from the records, like Watergate tapes. “It's like it's a non-call,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “I was told it goes right off the books.”

In effect, it is the NHL's way of acknowledging that the call was absurd. Unfortunately, the teams will not go back to the point in the third period and pick up where they left off before the call influenced the outcome.

Perhaps it delivers a message to officials, who have a tough job supervising a fast sport. Perhaps the message is, when in doubt, don't make a call, particularly in the last few minutes of a tie game.

Been to two playoff games. Both were quite some time ago. In Buffalo against the Nordiques. I believe that was back in the 84-85 season then I saw Gretzky and the Kings back in Edmonton in either 91-92 or the 92-93 season. The Edmonton game had empty seats in the upper deck (post Wayne) - lame, but the Quebec/Buff game was something I'll never forget.

Playoff hockey is unreal. Like you said the NHL live is pretty damn cool. Even the people who I have brought who aren't hockey fans always like it. Division games are great too. Even if you got a game where its split fan-wise, it's still an electric atmosphere. I think it actually adds to it. I hate seeing Ranger fans at the Rock but it really does make for an amazing atmosphere.

The games this season have been very intense, kind of like a pre playoff atmosphere, somewhere between an intense regular season game and a playoff game. Though the Preds have only had two home games so far, they end the road trip tonight in St Loius. Thats going to be a tough one, they always struggle in St Louis.

Rangers at Boston, Wild at Canucks, Buffalo at Ottawa and My Ducks take on the 'Hawks.

Normally I'd be nervous about that, but we actually match up well against them and hopefully could grab 2 more points on this road trip......

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"Just make sure you mention my name in the top brackets. And make sure they mention your name as the top - insert vulgar language that Chiefsplanet doesn't like even though it's a harmless lyric -....."

Brian Elliott has the world's largest 5-hole right now and has a sterling .830 Save Percentage in the 5 starts he's had since Halak went down. We're absolutely dying with this piece of trash in net.

The Blues start every game in a 2-0 hole before the horn even goes off and that will be the case until they can get Halak back in there. It's clearly a mental thing with elliott - he just cannot do the job when he's the lead dog.